Traffic signal



Aug. 5, 1930. c. J. CHAMBERLAND 1,772,305

' TRAFFIC SIGNAL- Filed May 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fjwuautoz 6, J 671' ar nfierzaml I aka awn Au 5, 1930. c. J. cHAMQE LAND I 1,772,305

TRAFFIC" menu.

Filed m y 4, 1927. 2 Sheots-Sheat 2 CIJ Chamberland Patented Aug. 5, 1931) "CLIFFORIJ' J. oHAMBnR LANn oF LEWIST'ON, MAINE 3 T AFFIC SIGNAL Applieation fil ed May 4,1927. Serial No. 1ss,s1s.f

illuminated so that an oificer may direct traffic by hand motions and the driver'of an auto mobile easily see the signal at night.

Another object ofthe invention is to permit theofiicer to'carry a stop and a 'go signal I upon the same hand and selectively display the signals to the driver of an automobile so that the ofiicer may easily indicate to; a -certain automobile driver the direction in which he wisheshimto move.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide improved means for securing signals one against the front or palm and the other against the back of a hand and to so form the means for carrying the signals that it maybe comfortably worn upon a hand and easily applied thereto or removed. a a I I Another object ofthe invention is-to provide the signals with legends whichare pivotally mounted and weighted so that whenthe officer moves his hand the legend will remain in'such position that it may be easily readby the driver of an automobile;

nated and to also permit a colored-light to be displayed which together with the'le'gend will accurately indicate the wishes of the tra'fiic i ofiicer to the driver of an automobile; p I

Another object of the invention is to perinit. the signals at the front andback of the 40 hand-to'be both illuminated by electric cur rent flowing from a battery carried uponthe person of thetraflic policeman. 1

The invention'is-illustrated in the'accoin panying drawings, wherein: V

Figure '1 is a perspective View showing the improved signal in use by a traflic oflicer;

Fig.2 is an enlarged front elevationof one ofthe signals;

Fig. Bis a vertical sectional view taken on 9 the line 3-3 of- Fig.4;

V H strap may have a portion adapte dto carry" a Another ob ect of the invent on is to protect the legend from damage but at'the sametime permit it who easily. seen by the'driver... of an automobile when the'signal is illumi-.

4; is a vertical sectional viewtaken on the lineAlof Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View of theupper "portion of Fig. 4:;-

Fig. 5is a perspective view of the battery T 1 receptacle with a battery disposed therein and the cover of the receptacle swung to anopen position;

- Fig. 6 is a view of the means for carrying the two signals I v Fig. 7 is asectional view taken onthe line Fig. 8v is a view similar to Fig. 2- shojwing the second signal forming part ofthe device; Fig.9 is awiring-diagram. a r The improved traffic signal includesa carrier which is shown in Fig. 6 and consists of astrap 1 having a buckle .2 at one end'so that it may be secured about the wrist of a h traffic policeman, as shown in Fig.1. Strips 3 and 4 extend from the strap-1 in diverging relation to each other and at their freeends carry cross strips6 which project from opposite sides of the main strips. Thestrap also o a" carries a shorter. strip 7 which is disposed intermediate thewidth of the palm out. a hand adjacent the base of the thumb when thestrap is secured about the wrist. Itdesired, the

wrist watch 8 which will'be preferably located between the attached ends ofthestrips 3 and 4; and mount the wrist watch against theouter portion of the wrist when the device is in use. Thestrap also carries aswitch consisting of companion sections 9 and 10,

one of which is securedtov the strap and can -r1es terminals ll-for engagement by conduc- "10 may be easily and quickly engaged with the section 9 in order to connect the conductor wires 14 with the conductor wires 12 but may be very easily disconnected when it is desired to prevent current from passing through the wires 14. e

The battery 16 Whichsupplies current is carried in a metal case 17 which is curved transversely, as shown in Fig. 5, so that it maybe placed in a pocket and this case is provided with a cover 18which is also formed of metal and releasably held shut by a snap fastener 19. Anopening 20isiiormed in the cover to receive a plug 21 to which the conductor wires 12 are attached and against the inner face of the cover is secured a contact strip 22 for engagement by the terminal pin 23 of the plug 21. It should be noted that the plug is fitted into the opening, as shown in Fig. 5,

with .the pins spaced from each other transversely of the cover so that whenthe cover is closed ,the second, terminal pin 24; of the plug inayhaye engagement wit-lithe contact strip 25071: the battery. Therefore, a circuit will be completed through the battery when the.

section 10 of. the switch is engaged with the section 9 and the bulb 26 mounted in the socket 27 will be illuminated. The socket 27 is formed of insulated material and is pro-- vided, witha base plate 28 which is firmly securedjagainst the inner face ofthe closure 29 of the stop'signall 30, and this base carries terminal strips 28 to which the wires 14 are attached; It should-also be noted that a branch wire 31leads from the wire 14' into j the casing of the Go signal 32' and is attached.

to a similar socket so that both of the signals Wlll be illuminated when the device is in use. It is thenonly necessary for the trafiic o'iiicer to hold his hand with either the palm or the casing. Eyes 38 extend. from opposite sides a the cl s relfo each casi gs- 1d hee ds back towards a driver in order to indicate to that particular driver whether hewishes him to stop or cross a street intersection.

Each of the signals consists of a casing 33 which may be formed of sheet metal or any other desired material and hasone end closed by the closure or door .29 which is hinged to theannular-Wall o'fi thecasing by a hinge 54 and at its opposite side carries a keeper 35. adapted to engage-a latch 36. The lat-ch3 is secured against the inner face of the wall ofthe casing and provided with an actuating pin 37 which projects, throu-ghthe'wall so that the latch may be movedinwardl v out of engagement with the keeper and permit the casing to beswungaway from theclosure r heo u e; tube s u g a ay om the f ofethe' rossfstrips and 6. are passed'through extendsdawnnarsily herefrom immedia y theseeyes fielded back upon themselves suite/cured. The' lOSure for the (tans f the stop'signal' also carries an eye 39i which.

4 e; the eyes 38, and is engagedby; the upper end q flthe strip It will thus be seen that.

- thetwasignalsiwillbe securely engaged Wl-iil inat'eria'lfand this head is colored so that when the signal is in use colored lights will be displayed. It is preferred to have the headl2 of the signal colored red and the corresponding head of the signal 32 colored green as these are the colors ordinaril) used in traffic signals to indicate Stop and Go. In order to retain the head in place, there have been provided rings 13 audit which are secured in the casing with the head disposed between them. It should be further noted; that the ring or circular band 4L3 projects fromthe casii'ig, as shown in Fig. 4', for engagement by the flange of a hood 16.; The hooded is also preferably formed of celluloid-,- although any translucent or semi-transparent material may be employed. A legend 47 which may consist of the word Stop orthe word G0 is disposed in front of the .head; 42 and is carried by ashaft 48 which passes through a bearing 49 mounted at the center of theh'ead, and from the inner end'of-zth'e shaft l8 extends a depending pendulum arni50 carrying a counter-Weight 51 at its; lower end. the counter-weight arm will serve to rotate theshaft inthe bearing 49 when the hand is moved and will-at all times retain the legend in such positionthat it may be easily read by the driver of an automobile. A 7.11

guidestrip 52 which is arcuate in shape fits against'the inner edge face of the ring a l and has itsends secured to-blo'cks 53 which are mounted inthe casing, as shownin Figs.

2 and ,It will thus be seen that the guide strip-and its end blocks will serveto limit swipgingofthependulum arm and also pre- -vent'it from'moi 'ing out. of proper relation 2t0 i I \Vhenethe device is in use, the battery is" placedfin; a pocket and theca'rrier secured upon; the. hand'with the Stop signal 30 against thepalmof the hand and the-Go signal32lagainst theback of the hand. Theasectionlqof the' switch isengaged with the sectionifi and this will complete a circuit through the battery sothat the bulbs, of the two signals will be illuminated. When an au omobile approaches a street intersection, the driver w l gna te t e tra fiq ofii er the direction inwhie-h he i h s. to prc eednd t e trafiic ofiicer gc'anturnhis hand, so that eitheri the.

G0 or the Stop signal willbe displayed wil ie d ive o the-automobile and thereb accurately indicate whetherhe Wishes; the" It will thus be seen that W driver to sto or proceed in the desired direetion. Any esired method of hand signaling Which ma be easily learned by the drivers of automo. iles may be employed to indicate to the trafiicofiicer the direction in which the driver desires to proceed. s It will be obvious that, if desired, one of the improved signals may be Worn upon each hand and current for them supplied by separate batteries or by a single battery.

Having thus describedthe invention, I

1. A hand signal comprising a casing, a transparency carried by said casing, a shaft journaled through said transparency, an indicator carried by the outer end of said shaft, an arm depending from the inner end of said shaft, a Weight carried by said arm, an arcuate strip in said casing to guide swinging movement of the armand having abutments at its ends to secure the strip and engages the weight to limit movement ofthe I arm across the transparency, a hood of translucent'materlal covering said indicator and the outer face of said transparency, and

means for illuminating the interior of said casing. V s

2.-Al1and signal comprising a casing open at one end, a transparency in said casing, having a marginal flange secured against Walls of the casing, a band insaid casing secured against the Wallsthereo'f with its innor edge bearing against said transparency and its outer portion projecting from the casing indicating means pivotally connected With'said transparency and spaced fromcits outer face,a counter-Weight yieldably resisting pivotal movement of said indicating means and retaining thefsame in position to be read, a hood of translucent material for the open end of said casing shielding said indicating means and transparency, and'having a marginal flange env gagedabout the extended outer portion of r said band to retain the hood in place and means to illuminate the interior oi said cas- In testimony whereof I aflix' myslgnature,

CLIFFORD J. CHAMBERLAND. [L 5.] r 

